ZANU PF infighting continues as Chairman resigns
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(+4 rating, 1 votes) Loading ...By MIKE MAKOMO
Published: December 10, 2009
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ZANU-PF Manicaland Provincial chairman Basil Nyabadza yesterday resigned from his post as the Fifth National People’s Congress started with debate on factionalism dominating the ZANU PF Politburo meeting.
The ZANU PF Politburo immediately accepted Nyabadza’s resignation and appointed Manicaland Governor and Resident Minister Christopher Mushohwe the acting chairman.
It had been rumoured earlier in the day that two other provincial chairpersons — s Lovemore Matuke (Masvingo) and John Mafa (Mashonaland West) — had also resigned, but the pair dismissed the claims.
Nyabadza cited as his primary reason the failure to garner sufficient support for secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa’s bid for the national chairmanship.
Manicaland had opted for Mutasa for the post, but Simon Khaya Moyo secured the backing of the other nine provinces.
On Monday the Politburo endorsed Khaya Moyo’s nomination, which now awaits confirmation on Saturday.
Addressing journalists last night, party deputy spokesperson Ephraim Masawi said Mushohwe would lead Manicaland at the congress and until the province elects a substantive chairperson.
“The Politburo discussed Nyabadza’s resignation and quickly accepted it.
“We have appointed Mushohwe as acting chairman and he will lead the province until they elect a new chairman.”
In his resignation letter to acting political commissar Richard Ndlovu, Nyabadza said he had not quit the party and would remain a card-carrying member.
“My mandate from the people of my province, Manicaland, was to deliver leadership and influence in the highest organ of our party through the presence, in the Presidium, of the most senior and highest ranking party cadre from Manicaland;
“In this case, to retain the fourth top position within the Presidium,” Nyabadza said.
He added: “I have failed to deliver to the people of Manicaland whose desire was to see the elevation of Mutasa.”
In an interview, Nyabadza said the position of national chairman was critical to Manicaland Province “to strike a national balance within national party politics”.
“Manicaland has never participated in the Presidium since independence in 1980. I believe the case has not been handled properly as our candidate is in his twilight years, politically — he is the most experienced and we felt he should have been rightly nominated for the chairmanship,” he said.
Nyabadza said his decision was personal and no one had forced him to step down.
“People must take their positions and defend them. It’s a position I strongly believe in and I believe I cannot serve the party when I feel something was not done correctly.”
Masvingo provincial chairman Matuke said although the province was “disgruntled”, he had no intention of resigning because the non-elevation of their preferred candidates to the posts of national chairman and Vice President was “part of democracy”.
Masvingo initially backed s Oppah Muchinguri and Kembo Mohadi for Vice
President and national chairman respectively.
However, Muchinguri lost to incumbent Vice President Joice Mujuru, while Mohadi opted out in favour of Khaya Moyo.
“I believe that if I have any grievances, I would rather make representations within party structures.
“The province is part of Zanu-PF and we cannot separate ourselves from it and we would rather solve our problems within the party,” he said.
Matuke described Nyabadza’s resignation as a “sad story” that should have been solved in an amicable manner.
Mafa echoed his counterpart’s sentiment saying his province believes that the issue should be resolved within party structures.
“I am disgruntled but not on the issue of the national chairmanship. I am not happy with the selection of Central Committee members from the province but I have not yet decided to quit.
“We are still in support of Khaya Moyo,” he said.
The issue of divisions within the party dominated yesterday’s Politburo meeting.
Informed sources said even a cursory review of Zanu-PF’s performance over the past five years had triggered a debate that overshadowed other items on the agenda.
The meeting, which lasted more than six hours, cited divisions as the reason for the poor showing in the 2008 harmonised elections.
Yesterday’s meeting was supposed to be short as it was meant focus mainly on congress preparations.
“Members were not happy with the way factionalism affected such provinces as Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands and Harare. These provinces cost us as a party and members were not happy at all,” an official said.
The Politburo, the source said, said the imposition of candidates in these provinces had split the vote and resulted in apathy.
The congress will review Zanu-PF’s most recent electoral performance.
Delegates are hoping that the congress will rejuvenate the party.